Hall of Fame Inductee - Shalyn 'Shy' Cartmill-Waddell

For several years, the Quincy Blue Devil Sports
Hall of Fame had only
one brother-sister combo
enshrined. Now it has
two.

Shy Cartmill, the
younger sister of QHS
boys basketball standout
Kyle Cartmill, joins him
among the inductees
after putting together a
stellar four-year prep career.
Cartmill was a fouryear
starter who scored
1,157 career points and
earned special mention
all-state honors as a
senior.

A first-team all-area
and All-Western Big Six
Conference selection, Cartmill averaged 11.1 points, six rebounds
and seven assists per game. She also had 78 assists and
was invited to play in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association
all-star game.

It was the third straight
season she averaged better
than 11 points per
game, netting 11.2 points
as a sophomore and 11.9
as a junior. She averaged
better than 4.2 rebounds
per game her final three
seasons as well.

Cartmill went on to
play at Western Illinois
University, where she led
the team in free throw
percentage and free
throw percentage. She
and her husband, former
NFL linebacker Reggie
Waddell, live in Carrollton,
Texas.

Acceptance Speech

First, giving honor to God who is truly the head
of my life. I know without Him, this would not be
possible. It is with great honor, a grateful heart and a
humble spirit that I accept this nomination into the
Quincy Senior High School Sports Hall of Fame.

I would like to thank several people. The Hall of
Fame Committee for this great honor. My parents,
Cheri Cartmill and Albert Cartmill Jr., for being very
loving, supportive and for believing in my talent and
allowing me to prefect it by turning our home into a
gym. My brother, Kyle, for being my “first coach,” my
greatest competition and my biggest fan. At the time
I didn’t understand why you were so hard on me, but
now I do and I thank you.

To the greatest grandparents a child could be
blessed with, Lillian “Granny” Aytson, Albert
“Grampsy” Cartmill Sr. and Dorothea “Grandma
Dot” Cartmill, thank you for your unconditional love,
unwavering support and your guidance.

Uncle Gary and Aunt Janet Cartmill and family,
Alfred Cartmill, Stacey and Dwayne Wells and family,
Gay and Richard Allen and family, thank you for
the miles you have traveled to show your love support
throughout my career.

To the family and friends that were unable to
travel the miles to support, I felt your presence and
love and it means just as much and I thank you. I am
also thankful to my late grandmothers, Lucille Aytson,
Bett y Cartmill and my late grandfather Thomas
“Papa” Johnson. I love/miss you and carry your life
lessons with me in my daily walk.

An extra special thanks to Mrs. Ruth, Bill, Dave
and the late Mr. Joe Daniels. Also, Dr. George and
Mrs. Mary Nell Meyer, I could never begin to thank
you enough for your kindness and support. Also, the
fans and friends of QHS basketball, you all hold a
very special place in my heart.

Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to thank my
mentors: Kay Robbins and the late Penny Lewis for
the support, guidance, life long lessons (on/off the
court). Words could never express what you mean to
me, so I’ll just simply say thank you.

To my coaches, Coach Sandi and Coach Fred
Devoe, thank you for the individual shooting lessons
and the lifelong friendship. Coach Eric Stratman, we
started out not always seeing eye to eye, but I know
that you always had my best interest at heart. You
pushed me to be the best, helped me to see things
in myself that I did not know were there and I thank
you very much for that and the memory we share of
winning the 8th Grade State Championship. Coach
Tom Berry and Coach Gary Handrick, thank you for
making my Lady Devil years memorable. Also, thank
you for pushing me day in and day out to be and play
my best.

I share this honor with my family, friends, teammates
and coaches throughout the years. You all hold
a very special place in my heart that I will always
cherish, I thank you all.